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Fixing to Asbestos Corrugated Sheeting
Hi All,
We have been asked to quote on some new signage for a large ‘warehouse’ which is steel structure but looks to be clad in asbestos corrugated sheeting?
1. Is it possible to fix to this sheeting – fix a tray sign? If so what are the best fixings or fixing methods?
2. Is it safely possible or even allowed to drill or cut this sheeting to fix to it?
3. How do we find out if it is actually asbestos?!Hope you all have a great weekend.
Thanks 😛
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26 Replies
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Hi Luke, I may be wrong but I thought asbestos was an absolute no no…..
I thought they came in all suited up in the white boiler suits to remove it 🙄Lynn
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Asbestos corrugated sheeting is not safe to drill into. As this will release asbestos fibers into the air and your lungs. Asbestos is quite easy to fracture and break so be easy on it.
The main worry with drilling or cutting it is the dust other than that it is relatively safe from what I have heard.
best thing is probably to ask the owner what it is and if asbestos is in it. You will have to decide to risk the fibers by cutting it or leave it alone. -
And to think as kids we used to chuck it in the fire and watch it explode !
I thought asbestos was pretty much banned now. . ! if it is asbestos I would go near it. .. but have you considered an adhesive and sticking the signs up ?
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I would speak to the owners as someone has already said, there are still a lot of buildings with these sorts of roof about, most of them contain very low levels of asbestos but you still need to be qualified to work with asbestos to touch them. There should actually be warning signs up to say that there is an asbestos risk, I had to do about 200 for a company that owned a few industrial estates after they had a health and safety inspector visit them.
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I did some work on an asbestos clad building a few weeks ago.
i expressed some ‘concern’ over this and was assured that it gets inspected every year for it’s integrity. Apparently they are not legally obligated to put up ‘ASBESTOS’ signs if it’s in good condition.
It’s really only old / flaky asbestos that is a health hazard…or if you are drilling / cutting it.
Me and my lil’ helper were putting up a 10’x4′ sign in a frame – used cladding screws through it into pads at the back as it’s no good at taking any fixings (crumbles).
Hence – we were out with the dust masks, although any dust was minimal (was kinda wet) – screws displaced the material rather than cut it just for added peace of mind.
If you’re not comfortable doing it – let them know so they can arrange alternative fitters.
Dave
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quote David Rogers:we were out with the dust masks, although any dust was minimal (was kinda wet) -DaveThats the way to keep safe with this stuff, keep it wet, wet wet.
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Yeah, I did one of these a couple of years ago. The guy that hired me was sh1tting himself thinking I wouldn’t agree to fit the sign because of the asbestos.
What the hell I thought – I’ve had a good innings, and I’m gonna die one day (either by falling off a ladder or cirrhosis of the liver) so what the hell I’ll take the job.
I wore a dust mask just to keep him happy!
Should’ve charged a lot more though 😕
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I wouldn’t touch it if it is asbestos. Its against the law here to even work on an asbestos surface, especially drilling into it 😮
Make sure its not fibro, it looks the same.
I’d be calling your local authority for advise.
My Father in law and Uncle both died of asbestosis, and I couldn’t imagine a slower more painful death in my life.
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Not to be messed with 😥
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Defo no no!
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give them a price for supply only and a price for supply and fit (make the fitting cost so high they won’t want to use you to fit it!!!). Failing that explain the issues and tell them you wont fit it.
cheers
graeme -
Many thanks for all your replies. I will make enquiries with the owner as to what material it is exactly.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Luke
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i haven’t worked with this stuff before and i wouldn’t want to.
however, if you do decide to do the job get a "proper 3M respirator" mask.
They will cost you about £35 each… just tell the guy the situation and that you will have to include the masks in the job. .i.e £100
I would also stick a bit extra onto it just for having to work with it.
This may sound extreme but i guess its how you value your life…
ide probably also wear a paper spray painters overall with the hood up.
they cost a couple of quid each, so no big deal. once you have done the job ide take them off carefully and roll them up and bin them.
the reason i say this is because the air born dust will be in your hair and clothes… so when you take the masks off and drive home, the dust is still all over you.the thing is, when the guy sees you all walking around like there’s been an anthrax scare, he will happily pay the extra and maybe even consider changing the panels of his building. :lol1:
dont use power drills on the material. they are fast and blow allot of dust around. use a cordless drill.
when fixing into it you could probably use "wood tech screws" accompanied by something like "toggle fixings" every 4ft
you could also run some lines of no-nails or silicon down the rear of the panels for added bond. (only do this if the wall surface is clean though, or its a bit of a waste of time.the "wood techs" will need a pilot hole drilled first.. probably 4mm as the surface is pretty soft, so it should be able to tap into it nice and tight.
the toggle fixings will need a 12mm hole drilled. (i personally hate these fixings) but i am trying to think of a fixing that will spread the area you are fixing into.anyway…im basing this on something like a dibond fascia… bigger heavier signs will need more thought.
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HI MARK PENNINGTON HERE FIRST TIME ON SITE
IF YOU ARE GOING TO FIT TO ASBESTOS CLADDING CHECK TO SEE IF ANY FIXING POINTS ARE VISIBLE, YOU CAN REMOVE REMOVE THEM WITHOUT DRILLING AND HAVE A FRAME MADE TO PICK UP ON THE SAME HOLES TO CARRY THE NEW SIGN.
7 DAYS AGO I REMOVED A 7MTR ROOF TO ALLOW LARGE FORMAT PRINTER TO BE LIFTED OUT OF THE TOP FLOOR.
HEALTH AND SAFETY INSPECTED IT AND SAID SAFE TO REMOVE AND REFIT BUT [/u]DO NOT DRILL DRY OR WET WITHOUT FULL P.P.E. -
I think I posted a pic of a 17 x 2,5m sign we fixed to an asbestos upper a few months ago for Commercial Cold storage.
Legalities aside, its simple: Drill holes with ordinary (not masonry) drill bits, no hammer action, slow speed, and spray water as you drill.(Drill a pilot hole (5mm) first, then the 20mm hole.) This means no dust, but better to still wear a dust mask.
As far as fixtures, we used "butterfly screws / wing screws" – may have a different name in your area. Its the things you use to put fixtures in suspended ceilings. Its got spring loaded wings that fold flat as you push them through the hole, and expand on the other side. This also spreads the load over a bigger area.
Charge the client a bit extra for "risk and inconvenience", and dont give any guarantees – asbestos can become as frail as dried cow dung!
Hope this helps
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Just don’t go there!
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i probably wouldn’t touch it in this day and age, knowing what we do, thought gluing a sign to it may be an option,
what worries me now, is when we were kids, our garden backed onto acres of old waste ground, woods/meadows and derelict out buildings, we spend many a fun day smashing up sheets of what i later knew was asbestos, inside some of the old falling down buldings, covered in dust and crap when we’d finished 😮 😮 😮
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quote GERT DU PREEZ:I think I posted a pic of a 17 x 2,5m sign we fixed to an asbestos upper a few months ago for Commercial Cold storage.Legalities aside, its simple: Drill holes with ordinary (not masonry) drill bits, no hammer action, slow speed, and spray water as you drill.(Drill a pilot hole (5mm) first, then the 20mm hole.) This means no dust, but better to still wear a dust mask.
As far as fixtures, we used “butterfly screws / wing screws” – may have a different name in your area. Its the things you use to put fixtures in suspended ceilings. Its got spring loaded wings that fold flat as you push them through the hole, and expand on the other side. This also spreads the load over a bigger area.
Charge the client a bit extra for “risk and inconvenience”, and dont give any guarantees – asbestos can become as frail as dried cow dung!
Hope this helps
I’m originally from South Africa and in these wonderful 3rd world countries "Health & Safety" is having a box of plasters in your bottom draw and rubber gloves to protect you from aids.
Asbestos is the least of their worries :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
But we do know how bad it is 😕
Warren
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Plasters? We use strips of offcut vinyl with some toilet paper! Need to disinfect with meths or turpentine first, though!
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quote GERT DU PREEZ:Plasters? We use strips of offcut vinyl with some toilet paper! Need to disinfect with meths or turpentine first, though!
Sounds about right :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
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I use masking tape for cuts, straight from the roll.
dont use any disinfectant though, it tends to kill the good microbes/cells that do the healing..
I once accidentally cut my leg off, laminated the stump. and it eventually grew back 😀
Peter
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quote Peter Normington:I use masking tape for cuts, straight from the roll.
dont use any disinfectant though, it tends to kill the good microbes/cells that do the healing..
I once accidentally cut my leg off, laminated the stump. and it eventually grew back 😀
Peter
pete, is that the time that lynn had to staple yer fingers back on so you could hold the laminate you put around the stump ?
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if you cut your finger simply dip it into liquid laminate and you have an instant plaster which protects your cut from the elements :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
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quote Hugh Potter:quote Peter Normington:I use masking tape for cuts, straight from the roll.
dont use any disinfectant though, it tends to kill the good microbes/cells that do the healing..
I once accidentally cut my leg off, laminated the stump. and it eventually grew back 😀
Peter
pete, is that the time that lynn had to staple yer fingers back on so you could hold the laminate you put around the stump ?
That’s the one Hugh, but after stapling me fingers back on, she had to use gaffer tape to attach the hand back to me wrist
Peter
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quote Peter Normington:That’s the one Hugh, but after stapling me fingers back on, she had to use gaffer tape to attach the hand back to me wrist
Peter
A bit of a digression – but reminded me of a saying I once saw.
"Gaffer Tape is like the Force. It has a light side & the Dark Side and helps bind the universe together."
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you are all nuts :lol1: :lol1:
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